Tension adjuster for clotheslines or the like



April 20, 1943.

c. GOELLER 2,316,950 TENSION ADJUSTER B6B CLOTHESLINES OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 17. 1942 Inventor I Mes 'aelle Patented Apr. 20, 1943 TENSION ADJUSTER FOR CLOTHESLINES OR THE LIKE Charles Goeller, Elizabeth, N. J.

Application August 1'7, 1942, Serial No. 455,156

3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in means for adjusting the tension of a sectional rope clothesline and the like, the primary object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character which is outstanding in its simplicity of installation and adjustment.

As will be hereinafter seen novelty is predi cated on a simple rope-end-coupling so made as to permit one end of the rope to be merely knotted and anchored thereon, the opposite companion end of the rope being slidably attached so that its terminal or free end may be drawn beneath the adjacent complemental end 'of the first rope, whereby to provide a reliable frictional bind between the two ends.

A further feature of the invention is in the rope end uniting or coupling member per se, this characterized by a V-shaped kerf, rope holes in the intermediate or body portion, and a rope end seating groove at the opposite end and somewhat lateral to the kerf.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the method and means utilized for carrying into practice the specific principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view detailing and thus emphasizing the looping and coactional bindng of rope ends.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the so-called plate-like body member, specifically the ropeend uniting and adjusting device.

Referring now to the drawing by distinguishing reference numerals it will be observed that the aforementioned plate-like body member or coupling device is generally denoted by the nur'neral i. In practice this may well be an elongated rectangular block of wood or equivalent material. At the left hand end shown in the drawing (see Figure 3) there exists a V-shaped notch or kerf 5 whose upper edge portion is properly sloped by the perimeter bevel 6. In line with the crotch of the kerf is one rope hole I, this passing through the body and having its opposite ends countersunk as at 8 to provide the desired bevels and to avoid undue chafing of the rope. Spaced from the first rope hole and in alignment therewith is a second hole 9 with its ends countersunk as'indicated at [0. Finally, the upper face of the block or body at the right hand end is provided with a shallow V-shaped groove or depression I I. This is located between the hole 9 and the adjacent end of the body and is transverse with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the body.

The adjusting rope is denoted by the numeral i2 and the slack take-up end is passed downwardly through the hole 1. around with the terminal portion passing up through the crotch portion of the notch or kerf as indicated at I3. Then the stretch 14 passing along the top surface of the body and is turned or twisted at right angles to seat in the groove H as indicated at the point 15. The companion rope end [6 has its free end passing downwardly through the hole 9, where it is knotted and anchored in place as at II. It is to be noted that in this association with the anchored end in place, it overlies and binds the underlying portion l5 of the slidable rope end, whereby to thus adjustably join the tWo rope ends in such a way as to enable the user, by proper manipulation, to appropriately tauten the whole clothesline (not shown) of which the rope ends constitute complemental or companion portions.

Although there is shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be definitely understood that it is not desired to limit the application of the invention thereto except as may be required by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An adjustable tensioning device for separably connecting a pair of companion rope-ends,

said device comprising a body member formed with a kerf in one end, a hole formed through said member inwardly from the kerf, a second hole formed in longitudinally spaced relation to the kerf and first hole, and a groove formed in the edge of the member near the second hole,

one of said rope-ends being passed through the Then 'it is loopedand placed in said depression to be frictionally 10 retained in place.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a ropeend coupling and tautening device comprising an elongated body having rope holes in its intermediate portion, a V-shaped kerf in one end,

and a V-shaped depression at the opposite end, the depression being at approximate right angles to the kerf.

CHARLES GOELLER. 

